AN INQUIRY has been launched into the sale of train tickets after a watchdog warned that passengers may have been “misled” over festive travel.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling ordered an “immediate investigation” after Transport Focus found passengers could buy tickets for services that will not run due to Network Rail’s engineering work.
Analysis by the passenger group revealed more than 2,600 omissions or errors relating to trains or replacement buses on journey planners. It also found six rail firms had failed to offer a full range of advance purchase tickets 12 weeks before Christmas when timetables should have been released, meaning some passengers could be forced into buying more expensive tickets.
Mr Grayling said: “It would be totally unacceptable if any passenger has to pay walk-up fares this Christmas because advance tickets were not available.
“I expect passengers to be offered the highest standards of customer service and have ordered an immediate investigation into this report.”
The Transport Secretary urged Network Rail and train companies to “work more closely together to minimise disruption for passengers and ensure this issue does not happen again”.
Plans were revealed last month to bring the operation of tracks and trains closer together in a bid to boost reliability.
By October 13, only 25 per cent of tickets were open for reservation on Virgin Trains, which runs services from London to Scotland.
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